Rack merchandising system

ABSTRACT

A rack merchandising system comprising a movable pallet base having openings to receive lifting forks, and a central support structure, the central support structure perpendicularly attached to the moveable pallet base and having two vertically extending sides. The central support structure may also comprise at least one transverse support member extending between the two vertically extending sides. The system further has at least two vertical upright supports that are spaced apart from each other and are located at or near a peripheral edge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, each vertically extending side being aligned with one of the vertical upright supports. The system further has at least one inclined shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second and third sides. The system further comprises a first attachment means for attaching the shelf to the central support structure, wherein the central support structure supports the shelf at a first side of the shelf, and a second attachment means for attaching the shelf to the vertical upright supports at the second and third sides of the shelf respectively, wherein the vertical upright supports support the shelf at the second and third sides of the shelf, and wherein the first attachment means is vertically higher than the second attachment means.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/437,534filed on May 14, 2003, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/173,894,filed Jun. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,083 B1, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 09/897,622, filed Jul. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,405,880 B1, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to rack merchandising systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retail store locations, such as grocery stores, drug stores, discountstores, and convenience stores, typically use shelving both to store anddisplay items, such as bottled or canned beverages, to consumers. It ispreferable that shelving be easy to install and capable of organizingand displaying a large number of items that collectively comprise heavymerchandise loads. To satisfy these requirements, many retail storelocations use gondola-shelving systems. Gondola shelving systemstypically employ shelves that are supported by brackets, and hookformations of the brackets are inserted into a support, such asconventional slotted uprights. These systems are typically assembled,installed, and stocked with retail items at fixed locations within astore, such as along a store aisle.

To maximize retail store sales, retail stores typically run seasonaland/or other promotions involving certain retail items, and it isdesirable during these promotions to provide shelving systems to displaythose items at high traffic store locations, e.g., near cash registersand/or near the end of a store aisle. Conventional shelving systems thathave been assembled, installed and stocked with product at one storelocation are not thereafter typically moved to a higher traffic storelocation to display the items during certain seasonal and/or otherpromotions. The reason conventional systems stocked with items are nottypically moved to another store location is that they bear a heavymerchandise load and do not provide suitable structure to permit easymovement of the stocked shelving systems using conventional pallet jacksor fork lifts.

It would be desirable to provide a rack merchandising system that isreadily, conveniently, and easily assembled and that, after beingstocked with product, can be readily, conveniently, and easily moved todifferent store locations, e.g., as may be desired for variouspromotions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rack merchandising system havingsuitable structure to permit movement of the stocked rack merchandisingsystem using a conventional pallet jack or forklift. The presentinvention is a rack merchandising system comprising a movable palletbase, a central support structure, at least two vertical uprightsupports, and at least one inclined shelf. The movable pallet base hasopenings to receive the forks of a forklift (not shown) or otherwise belifted by a pallet jack (not shown). The vertical upright supports arepreferably spaced apart from each other and are located at or near theouter peripheral edge of the top surface of the movable pallet base. Thecentral support structure comprises two vertically extending sides, eachextending side being spaced apart from and aligned with one of thevertical upright supports. The central support structure isperpendicularly attached to the base. The central support structure mayalso comprise at least one transverse support member that extendsbetween the two vertically extending sides. Each central supportstructure in combination with the shelf has a first attachment means forattaching the shelf to the central support structure wherein the centralsupport structure supports the shelf. Each vertical upright support incombination with the shelf has a second attachment means for attachingthe shelf to the vertical upright support wherein the vertical uprightsupport supports the shelf.

The shelf has a first, second, third, and fourth sides. The first andfourth sides of the shelf are parallel to each other and perpendicularto the second and third sides of the shelf. The shelf can be attached tothe central support structure at or near the first side. In addition,the shelf can be attached to the vertical upright supports at or nearits second, and third, and or fourth sides. When the shelf is installedin the rack merchandising system, the first side of the shelf isattached to the central support structure at a point vertically higherthan the point where the shelf is attached to the vertical uprightsupports. Thus, the shelf can have a forwardly inclined orientation sothat when an item is taken off the shelf, the items behind the removeditem slide towards the front of the shelf. Preferably, the shelf can beremoved and replaced as may be desired to facilitate the merchandisingof multiple bottled and/or canned beverages of various types and sizes.Preferably, the shelves are divided into channels, each channel allowinga column of beverage containers to be stocked. Preferably, the floor ofthe channel is lined with a slippery or friction resistant material toallow beverage bottles to slide to their forward-most position forincreased presentation to and easier access by customers.

The present invention can further include a variety of advertisinggraphics. For example, advertising graphics can be placed on top of thecentral support structure and not be obstructed from view by merchandiseon the top shelf. In addition, advertising graphics can be placed on the“C” shaped channel strips on the front of the inclined shelves.Advertising graphics can also be placed on vertically extending sidepanels located on the sides of the rack merchandising system andattached to the movable pallet base.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following drawings and detailed description.The following drawings and detailed description afford a comprehensiveunderstanding of the present invention. However, it should be understoodthat the described preferred embodiments are illustrative only, sincevarious modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention maybecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who have benefitedfrom this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the racksystem of the present invention without removable shelves shown.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, withadvertising graphics.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, withtwo installed shelves 18.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred first attachmentmeans for attaching the shelf to the transverse support member 28.

FIG. 3C is an enlarged top view of a preferred second attachment meansfor attaching the shelf to the vertical upright supports.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of FIG. 3A,wherein eight shelves 18 are installed.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of another preferred firstattachment means for attaching the shelf to the transverse supportmember 28.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a shelf 18 of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a shelf 18 of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention that is stocked with items.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention that is stocked with items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the present invention is a rack merchandisingsystem 10 comprising a movable pallet base 12, a central supportstructure 14, at least two vertical upright supports 16, and at leastone inclined shelf 18. The movable pallet base 12 has openings 20 toreceive the forks of a forklift (not shown) or otherwise be lifted by apallet jack (not shown). The vertical upright supports 16 are preferablyspaced apart from each other and are located at or near the outerperipheral edge 22 of the top surface 24 of the movable pallet base 12.The central support structure 14 comprises two vertically extendingsides 26, each extending side being spaced apart from and aligned withone of the vertical upright supports 16. The central support structure14 is perpendicularly attached to the pallet base 12. In an example of apreferred assembly, a brace 13, having holes that align with holes inthe pallet base, can be placed on opposite ends of the movable palletbase 12, and the central support structure 14 can be attached to thepallet base 12 by screws or bolts 15 that are inserted into holesdefined by the central support structure 14, the holes defined by thebrace 13, and the holes defined by the pallet base. Screws or bolts 15can be, for example, ½-20×1″ hex head machine screws, and washers canalso be used. The vertical upright supports can be attached to thepallet base 12 by screws or bolts 17. The central support structure mayfurther comprise at least one transverse support member 28 that extendsbetween the two vertically extending sides 26 of central supportstructure 14.

Each central support structure 14 in combination with the shelf 18 has afirst attachment means 40 for attaching the shelf 18 to the centralsupport structure 14 wherein the central support structure 14 supportsthe shelf 18. An example of a first attachment means 40 comprises a hook42 as shown in FIG. 3B. As further shown in FIG. 3B, when centralsupport structure 14 includes a transverse support member 28, transversesupport member 28 in combination with shelf 18 has a first attachmentmeans 40 for attaching the shelf 18 to the transverse support member 28wherein the transverse support member 28 supports the shelf 18.

Each vertical upright support 16 in combination with the shelf 18 has asecond attachment means 44 for attaching the shelf 18 to the verticalupright support 16 wherein the vertical upright support 16 supports theshelf 18. An example of a second attachment means 44 is a combination ofa nut 46, a lock washer 48, a support bar 31, a washer 50, and a screw52 as shown in FIG. 3C. Screw 52 is inserted through washer 50, hole 30of vertical upright support 16, support bar 31, lock washer 48, and nut46.

As shown in FIG. 4A, plurality of shelves 18 can be stacked in parallelon either or both sides of the central support structure 14. As shown inFIG. 4B, the top shelf 18 does not have hooks, and can be attached tothe central support structure 14 with a bracket 45 and screw 47combination. Screws 47 can be, for example, ¼-20×1½″ hex head machinescrews. Nuts and washers (not shown) can also be used in combinationwith the screws 47 and bracket 45.

The shelf has a first, second, third, and fourth sides, which arerespectively identified in FIGS. 3A and 3B as 32, 34, 36, and 38. Thefirst side 32 and the fourth side 38 of the shelf 18 are parallel toeach other and perpendicular to the second side 34 and the third side 36of the shelf 18. The shelf 18 can be attached to the transverse supportmember 28 at or near the first side 32. In addition, the shelf 18 can beattached to the vertical upright supports 16 at or near the second side34, the third side 36, and/or the fourth side 38. When the shelf 18 isinstalled in the rack merchandising system 10, the first side 32 of theshelf 18 is attached to the transverse support member 28 at a pointvertically higher than the point where the shelf 18 is attached to thevertical upright supports 16. Preferably, the shelf can be removed andreplaced as may be desired to facilitate the merchandising of aplurality of items of various types and sizes, e.g., bottled beveragesof various types and sizes. Preferably, the shelves 18 are divided intochannels 54, each channel 54 allowing a column 72 of upright items 70 tobe stocked. See e.g., FIG. 10. Shelves 18 can be comprised of wire 56and/or slides 57. Slides 57 can be snapped into channels 54. Forexample, at the back of each slide 57 clips (not shown) can bepositioned that snap around the two center wires defining each channel54. In a preferred embodiment, the wire 56 and/or slide 57 is coatedwith a slippery or friction resistant material to allow the stored itemsto move to their forward-most position for increased presentation to andeasier access by customers.

As shown in the drawings, the rack merchandising system 10 of thepresent invention can have a plurality of shelves 18. Further, shelves18 can be positioned at various vertical locations on either side of thecentral support structure 14. Those of skill in the art will recognizethat each shelf 18 can be moved to a desired angular orientation bypivoting the shelf 18 about the first attachment means 40 to move thefourth side 38 of shelf 18 to a desired vertical point and the secondattachment means 44 is then used to fix the shelf 18 to the verticalupright supports 16. Those skilled in the art will also recognize thatshelves 18 can be stacked in parallel at desired locations and angularorientations.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, a plurality of inclined shelves 18 can bepositioned on either oppositely facing front 82 of the central supportstructure 14. This arrangement is particularly desirable for storage anddisplay of individual packages items 70, e.g., two-liter beveragebottles. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of inclinedshelves 18 can be positioned on only one side of the central supportstructure and horizontal shelves 19 can positioned on the other side ofthe central support structure 14. Horizontal shelves 19 can be used whenit is desirable to store and display relatively heavy packages of items,e.g., packages 90 of six, twelve or twenty-four beverage cans orbottles.

The present invention can further include a variety of advertisinggraphics. For example, advertising graphics 60 and/or flip charts 62 canbe placed on a header 58 that is attached to the central supportstructure 14, and not be obstructed from view by merchandise on the topshelf 18. Advertising graphics 60 can be inserted into channel 76defined by extrusion 78. See FIG. 2. Extrusion 78 can then be slid intochannel 80 defined by header 58. The attachment of header 58 to thecentral support structure 14 can be made using screws or bolts 74. SeeFIG. 1. An example of screws or bolts 74 are ¼-20×2″ hex head machinescrews. Washers and nuts (not shown) can also be used to attach theheader to the central support structure 14.

In addition, advertising graphics can be placed on strips 64 on thefourth side 38 or front of the inclined shelves 18. Strips 64 can beslid into channels defined by the fourth side 38 or front of inclinedshelves 18. Advertising graphics can also be placed on verticallyextending side panels 66 located on the sides of the rack merchandisingsystem 10. As shown in FIG. 6, side panels 66 can slide between channels68 (shown in FIG. 3B) defined by vertically extending sides 26 andvertical upright supports 16.

The present invention has been described in detail with particularreference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and those of skillin the art will appreciate that variations and modifications are withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. A rack merchandising system comprising a movable pallet base havingopenings to receive lifting forks, a central support structure, thecentral support perpendicularly attached to the movable pallet base andhaving two vertically extending sides, at least two vertical supportsthat are spaced apart from each other and are located at or near aperipheral edge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, eachvertically extending side being aligned with one of the at least twovertical upright supports, at least one shelf having a first side, asecond side, a third side, and a fourth side, the first side and thefourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicular to thesecond and third sides, whereby the shelf is supported by the centralsupport structure and the at least two vertical supports.
 2. The rackmerchandising system of claim 1, wherein the shelf is divided intochannels, each channel having dimensions to receive a series of retailitems.
 3. The rack merchandising system of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of shelves stacked in parallel.
 4. The rack merchandisingsystem of claim 1, wherein the shelf can be positioned at variousvertical locations.
 5. The rack merchandising system of claim 1, whereinthe central support structure has two oppositely facing fronts, and theshelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on either front ofthe central support structure.
 6. The rack merchandising system of claim1, wherein the attachment between the first side of the shelf and thecentral support structure pivots to move the fourth side of the shelf toa desired vertical point to achieve a desired angular orientation of theshelf.
 7. The rack merchandising system of claim 1, wherein a verticallyextending side is adaptable to contain promotional materials.
 8. Therack merchandising system of claim 1, comprising a second, third andfourth shelf, each of the first, second, third and fourth shelves beingsubstantially parallel to the other shelves.
 9. The rack merchandisingsystem of claim 1, wherein the central support structure furthercomprises at least one transverse member extending between the twovertically extending sides.
 10. The rack merchandising system of claim9, wherein the first side of the shelf is attached to the transversesupport member of the central support structure.
 11. A rackmerchandising system comprising a movable pallet base having openings toreceive lifting forks, a central support structure, the central supportperpendicularly attached to the movable pallet base and having twovertically extending sides, at least two vertical supports that arespaced apart from each other and are located at or near a peripheraledge of a top surface of the movable pallet base, each verticallyextending side being aligned with one of the vertical upright supports,at least one shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, anda fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel toeach other and perpendicular to the second and third sides, at least oneattachment between the first side of the shelf and the central supportstructure, wherein the central support structure supports the shelf atthe first side of the shelf, at least one attachment on the second sideof the shelf, and at least one attachment on the third side of theshelf, whereby the shelf is supported by at least in part by the atleast two vertical upright supports.
 12. The rack merchandising systemof claim 11, wherein the shelf is divided into channels, each channelhaving dimensions to receive a series of retail items.
 13. The rackmerchandising system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality ofshelves stacked in parallel that can be positioned at various verticallocations.
 14. The rack merchandising system of claim 11, wherein thecentral support structure has two oppositely facing fronts, and theshelf can be positioned at various vertical locations on either front ofthe central support structure.
 15. The rack merchandising system ofclaim 11, wherein the attachment between the first side of the shelf andthe central support structure pivots to move the fourth side of theshelf to a desired vertical point to achieve a desired angularorientation of the shelf.
 16. The rack merchandising system of claim 11,wherein a vertically extending side is adaptable to contain promotionalmaterials.
 17. The rack merchandising system of claim 11 further havinga plurality of non-inclined shelves at one front of the central supportstructure.
 18. The rack merchandising system of claim 11, wherein thecentral support structure further comprises at least one transversemember extending between the two vertically extending sides.
 19. Therack merchandising system of claim 18, wherein the first side of theshelf is attached to the transverse support member of the centralsupport structure.
 20. A rack merchandising system comprising a movablepallet base having openings to receive lifting forks, a central supportstructure, the central support perpendicularly attached to the movablepallet base and having two vertically extending sides, wherein thecentral support structure has two oppositely facing fronts, at least twovertical supports that are spaced apart from each other and are locatedat or near a peripheral edge of a top surface of the movable palletbase, each vertically extending side being aligned with one of the atleast two vertical upright supports, at least one inclined shelf havinga first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, the firstside and the fourth sides being parallel to each other and perpendicularto the second and third sides, whereby the inclined shelf is supportedby the central support structure and the at least two vertical supports,and the inclined shelf can be positioned at various vertical locationson the first front of the central support structure, at least onenon-inclined shelf having a first side, a second side, a third side, anda fourth side, the first side and the fourth sides being parallel toeach other and perpendicular to the second and third sides, whereby thenon-inclined shelf is supported by the central support structure and theat least two vertical supports, and the non-inclined shelf can bepositioned at various vertical locations on the second front of thecentral support structure.